Farm gate



Aug. 26, 1947. 1 s. SWANSON 2,426,330

' .FARM GATE Filed June 10. 1944 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 I Invgni'br:

Aqg.26,1947.' v s. swANsoN 2,426,380

FARM GATE Filed June 10, 1944 Z Sheets-Sheet 2 Y un v Iniaenior:

S wlan Suganson jtorr ze y.

Patented Aug. 26, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,426,380.

FARM GATE 7 Swan Swanson, Lansing, Mich. Application June 10, 1944, Serial No. 539, 7 17 Claims. (c1. 39-96) This invention relates to swinging gates and more particularly to an improved farm gate.

Several serious 'difficulties have been confronted'in the construction and use of conventional farm gates. Such gates are usually made in the form of a long woodenframe hinged at one of its narrower ends to one gate post, its opposite or swinging end being adapted to close against another' post. The frame, which is usually made of wood, must be of sufficient strength and size, and therefore the gate, particularly after it has been exposed to wet weather, is very heavy. Due to the length of the wooden frame and its weight, its swinging end cannot be maintained in suspension by the hinges, as is the case with a house door, and it sags to the ground. Therefore, for opening and closing the gate, one must lift and carry its swinging end., This requires considerable exertion, and when attempted by children, women, or aged persons, it is dangerous to health. Many cases of rupture, returned rupture, and similar accidents on farms have been traced to this cause. This difiiculty is increased still further where the ground is uneven or rises, as in front of barn doors, and the gate has to be carried uphill.

Attempts have been made to provide the swinging end of the frame with a Wheel rolling on the ground to support the Weight of the swinging end. While this proved to be' of considerable help on level ground or pavement, or in elaborate constructions where an arcuate supporting rail is provided for the wheel to roll on, in cases of common farm gates provision of such wheels was either ineffective where strong hinges did not permit the swinging end to follow the uneven ground, or it could roll only after the weight of the frame caused tearing out of the hinges or loosening of the frame joints. It can be easily appreciated that as the swinging gate frame hinged to a vertical gate post follows uneven ground, the vertical hinge-carrying edge of such gate frame tends to assume an inclined position; since the gate post remains vertical, either the hinges or the joints of the gate frame must give. Since the provision of strong hinges capable of preventing sagging of the gate is impractical, use of such hinge means as a loop of wire has often been resorted'to. Such hinge means could not prevent the gate from sideward wobbling, under which conditions the effectiveness of thewheel is decreased toan impracticable degree.

One-of the main objects of the present invention is to provide" an improved farm gate which overcomes and eliminates the above difficulties, and in which the swinging end can be moved easily over uneven ground, or in other words, be made to follow a grade, Without interference at the hinges.

Another object of the inevntion is to provide an improved farm gate having means at its hinged end, which means are adapted to support the weight of said end and at the same time to permit it to deviate from the vertical position as the swinging end follows rising or fallingground.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved farm gate of the character specified in the preceding paragraph, which gate has means restricting undesirable side wobbling of the swinging end.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved farm gate in which the swinging end carries rolling means enabling it to be easily moved over even or uneven ground without the necessity of being lifted.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved farm gate of the fore-' It is an added object of the present invention to provide an improved farm gate which is simple and rugged in construction, dependable in operation, and is relatively simple and inexpensive to make.

. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended drawings forming a part of the present specifications, in which drawings similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a gate embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is another elevational view illustrating operation of the gate shown in Fig. l, in following a grade. 7

Fig. 3 is a view sho'wingon a somewhat larger scale the hinge means of the gate shown in Figs.

1 and 2. I I Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken'in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the section line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating a modified construction of the gate embodying the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the section line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate gates embodying the present invention and having modified type of hinge means.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of other embodiments and modifications and that the terminology and phraseology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings there are shown by way of example farm gates embodying the present invention. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to farm gates, since it may be applied to any closure where requirements or operation conditions involve factors discussed herein.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the gate illustrated therein comprises a generally rectangular frame designated by the numeral Ill. The frame it is of an elongated shape and is composed of vertical members H, 92, and I3, connected by means of horizontally disposed members or boards l4.- A diagonal member (not shown) may also be provided if a particularly rigid construction is required. member ll forms the swinging end Ilia of the gate, movable away from and toward a post l5 for opening and closing the gate, respectively. A roller or wheel i6 is carried at the lower end of the member ll, being adapted to roll on the ground as the frame is being moved, thus greatly facilitating opening and closing thereof. The vertically extending member l3 forming the hinged end lf b of the gate frame [0 is connected or hinged with the aid of means described in detail below to a gate post II. The gate is shown as interposed in a roadway leading up to the level of the second floor of a barn, which roadway therefore has a rather steep grade.

It will now be clear in view of the foregoing that as the swinging end Elia of the frame Iii swung around, with the wheel l6 following the grade, it is being raised or lowered, as illustrated in Fig. 2. If rigid hinges such as door hinges were employed for connecting the hinged end iiib of the frame it to the gate post ll, such hinges holding the member is positively to the post I! would not permit the swinging end [lid to change its elevation, or end Nib to change its angle with respect to the post l1, and an exertion of sufiicient force on the gate frame to force it up or down the grade would either tear the hinges or loosen the joints between the vertical members and the horizontal members of the frame. The provision of some kind ofloose hinges, such as a band of wire to hold the hinged end to the gate post, would cause the hinged end to wobble sideward with the lower corner of the hinged end resting on the ground. This would prevent full closing of the gate at the hinged end, and, in general, would cause an inconvenient operation of the gate.

In accordance with the present invention there are provided improved means whereby the hinged end. is supported or suspended" on the The vertical r gate post such as post ll, said means permitting swinging of the gate around the post I! with the swinging end Illa going up or down in following the grade without the frame wobbling sideward. Expressing the above in geometric terms, the function of the improved hinged means are: (1) to support the weight of the hinged end on the post I1, (2) to provide a vertical axis for rotation of the gate frame in swinging the gate open and closed, and (3) to provide a horizontal axis for limited rotation in the swinging vertical plane as the frame is swung around with its end [0a following a grade, and (4) to urge yieldingly said frame to maintain its position in said swinging vertical plane, that is, to restrain it from sideward wobbling.

The hinge performing the above function and herein illustrated by way of example comprises a joint [8 including a hook Illa secured to the post II in any suitable manner, and an eye member IBb loosely fitting on the hook 1-80, and secured in any suitable manner to the gate member l3. By virtue of such a construction the weight of the hinged end lila of the frame is supported through the eye IBb on the hook l8a, which hook thus also provides a hinge point or an axis for rotating the frame around a vertical axis in swinging said frame Ill around the post ll. Due

to the loose fit of the loop or eye lab on the hook lad the frame Ii! can also be rotated within the necessary limits around a horizontal axis in order to permit raising and lowering of the swinging end. Ba of the frame I!) asshown in Fig. 2. There is thus provided a joint l8 which, in effect, operates within necessary limits as a universal joint. Any other construction of the joint to effect similar operation may be used.

Means are provided to restrain the frame I!) from sideward wobb-ling, said means being adapted to yield to the change of the angle between the end lilb and the post I! resulting from raising or lowering of the end Illa. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4 said means are exemplified by tension springs l9 and 2.!) having ends connected to the end [lib and the post i respectively.v In the position of the gate frame shown in Fig. 1, the springs l9 and 29 are pretensioned and therefore both of said springs operate to exert a strong pull on the ends of the member 13 holding the same to the post I! and thus. maintaining it in a substantially vertical position. The jointlfl resists movement of the member !3 and consequently of the entire frame l0 toward the post I! as would otherwise be caused by the tensioned springs I9 and 2E).

The springs l9 and 2a are so selected that they easily yield to the forces caused by operation of the swinging end of the gate and do not interfere therewith.

By virtue of such a construction the frame I0 may be easily opened and closed without sideward wobbling and with the wheel l6 rolling on the ground, the advantages of which operation are discussed above.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the construction and the operation of the gate is substantially the same, the main difference being in the method of fabrication or assembly of the hardware for efficient commercial distribution. In this construction the channel member 2! is pre assembled with a wheel 22 and a hook 233, while a similar .channel member 24 is p-re-assembled with the springs 25 and 26 and the joint 27. A piece ,of barbed wire 29 and a wire-bracer 29a may also be provided.

Such hardware may be conveniently packed in one carton as a set, for distribution. For constructing the gate in the field the purchaser would need only to provide boards of suitable length and interpose them between the channel members 2| and 24 as illustrated in the drawing. Thereupon the springs 25 and 26 and the joint 21 are secured to the post 28 as illustrated, which provides a finished gate. If wire pieces 29 and 29a are supplied, they may be strung up as illustrated.

The hinge means illustrated in Fig. 7 comprise vertically disposed springs 39 and 3! supporting the frame on the hooks 32 and 33, respectively, and horizontally disposed springs 34 and. 35. Springs 34 and 35 need not be pre-stressed in this construction. The combined operation of all of the springs ensures operation of the gate frame in a manner described with respect to Fig. 1.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 8, the suspension of the gate comprises a heel support 40, which may be of the ball-and-socket type, and a p-restressed tension spring 41. The heel support 4!! permits rotation of the frame for swinging as well as for raising and lowering the swinging end of the gate frame. The pre-tension spring 4| connected to the upper end of the member 62, and the gate post 45, holds the upper end of said member 42 to the gate post 43. Undesirable movement of the gate frame toward the post 43 is resisted by the heel support 40 as well as by the weight of the swinging end of the gate frame. Operation of the gate frame in following a grade causes movements of the hinged end illustrated in dotted lines.

There is thus provided an improved gate whereby objects of the present invention listed above as well as a number of additional advantages are attained.

I claim:

1. In a farm gate, a generally rectangular frame comprising two vertically extending metal members adapted to receive the ends of a plurality of longitudinally disposed boards; a wheel carried at the lower extremity of one of said metal members; a universal hinge carried at the middle of the other metal member and adapted to be connected to a gate post to support the weight of the hinged end of the gate frame; two springs connected to the ends of said other metal member and adapted to be pre-tensioned and connected to said gate post.

2. In a farm gate, a generally rectangular frame comprising two vertically extending metal members adapted to receive the ends of a plurality of longitudinally disposed boards; hinge means connected to one of said members and adapted to be connected to a gate post to support the weight of the hinged end of the gate frame;

a rolling member carried at the lower extremity of the other metal member; and spring means connected to said first metal member and urging the corners of said frame toward the gate post.

3. In a farm gate, a generally rectangular frame comprising two vertically extending metal members adapted to receive the ends of a plurality of longitudinally disposed boards; hinge means connected to one of said members and adapted to be connected to a gate post to support the weight of the hinged end of the gate frame; a rolling member carried at the lower extremity of the other metal member; and spring means carried by said first metal member and adapted to be connected to the gate post for yieldingly urging the corners of the frame toward said gate post.

4. In a farm gate, two metal members adapted to receive the ends of a plurality of longitudinally disposed wooden boards to form a generally rectangular frame; a wheel carried at the lower end of one of said metal members and adapted to roll on the ground as the frame is being moved in opening and closing the gate; hinge means carried by the other metal member and adapted to be connected to a gate post to support the hinged end of the gate frame; and spring means carried by said other metal member and adapted to urge the corners of the hinged end of the frame toward the gate post but yielding as either of said corners moves away from said post as said wheel follows uneven ground.

5. In a farm gate, two metal members adapted to receive the ends of a plurality of longitudinally disposed wooden boards to form a generally rectangular frame; a wheel carried at the lower end of one of said metal members and adapted to roll on the ground as the frame is being moved in opening and closing the gate; suspension means carried entirely by the other metal member and including hinge means adapted to be connected to a gate post to support the hinged end of the frame, and spring means adapted to urge the corners of the hinged end of the frame toward the gate post but yielding as either of said corners moves away from said post as said wheel follows uneven ground.

SWAN SWANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,447,016 Etue Feb. 27, 1923 1,619,819 Hageman Mar. 8, 1927 1,636,571 Liepold July 19, 1927 1,171,903 Swank et a1 Feb. 15, 1916 

